Lynn C. Woolsey: “as the saying goes, it is time for a lot less talk and a lot more action. The other side of the aisle talks a good game…”

“as the saying goes, it is time for a lot less talk and a lot more action. The other side of the aisle talks a good game on protecting our oceans, but they control the Resources Committee. They control the House floor schedule. They control this Congress. And what have they done? At any time, they can use the House Resources Committee to bring up legislation to protect the oceans, but they have yet to have hearings or move legislation on marine protected areas, regional governance or coastal management. Instead, they have continually tried to open up our coasts to offshore drilling. I have introduced H.R. 1712 to protect the coast of Sonoma County, California, as part of the National Marine Sanctuary Program, but there have been no hearings on this bill or any other bill to protect our oceans. Let us be clear with the American people: This task force that this bill creates will have no ability to truly affect policy. Mr. Speaker, I would ask that instead of talking a good game, that they start bringing up bills, such as H.R. 1712, that would truly protect our oceans.”